Microvascular flow vectors in normal and hypertrophic myocardium as determined by the method of colored microspheres.

Sequential in vivo infusion of two differently colored microsphere suspensions into the left atrium of normal and hypertrophic rat myocardium revealed that certain coronary capillaries contained microsphere aggregates of both colors. A capillary flow vector was established based on the sequence of colors embolized within each aggregate. Critical examination of flow vectors among neighboring capillaries enabled the characterization of capillary flow direction. Results indicated a predominance in concurrent flow direction, which decreased significantly (P less than 0.001) with capillaries further removed from an individual reference capillary. The percentage of concurrent flow was also found to be significantly lower in subendocardium (P less than 0.001) than in midmyocardium. Cardiac hypertrophy was not a contributing factor to the above findings. This study provides previously unattainable data regarding transmural capillary flow direction and suggests regional adaptations in coronary microvascular flow.